Nuclear fears grow after N Korea tests

North Korea has tested devices that can trigger nuclear weapons and has been reprocessing some of its spent nuclear fuel rods, South Korea's top intelligence official reported yesterday.

The warning has added to international fears that the reclusive communist state is moving rapidly to develop a potent nuclear weapons capability.

The development came as officials from 11 nations met in Brisbane to discuss possible joint military action aimed at curbing the global trade in components for weapons of mass destruction.

Just hours before the latest warning on North Korea, the Federal Government played down expectations that Australia might become involved in a future naval blockade of the communist state.

In evidence to South Korea's parliament yesterday, National Security Service director Ko Young-koo said North Korea had tested about 70 high-explosive devices in the north-west of the country that could be used to trigger nuclear weapons.");document.write("

advertisement

");
}
}
// -->

Mr Ko also reported that North Korea had begun reprocessing some of the 8000 spent fuel rods at its nuclear reactor site at Yongbyon, which can be used to produce high-grade plutonium to make at least half a dozen nuclear bombs within months.

The South Korean intelligence report marks an important shift by Seoul, which until now has attempted to play down media reports that North Korea has stepped up the development of nuclear weapons.

The US has always believed that North Korea had one or two crude nuclear bombs. But this latest development suggests it is quickly developing nuclear weapons capable of arming its arsenal of ballistic missiles.

North Korea has at least 100 medium-range missiles capable of hitting Japan. It is also developing long-range missiles that could reach the west coast of the US.

Yesterday's South Korean intelligence report follows similar reports recently in the US and Japanese media. On July 1, the New York Times reported that US intelligence officials believed North Korea was developing technology to make nuclear warheads small enough to be carried by its missiles. Seoul officials said an advanced testing site had been identified at Yongduk-dong, about 40 kilometres north-west of Yongbyon.

Hours before last night's warning from Seoul, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer said it was "far too early" to be speculating about Australian involvement in any future naval blockade of North Korea.

Under proposals to be canvassed today at an international meeting in Brisbane, it is expected that Australia, the US and Canada will offer to share with other nations their expertise in ship-boarding and "interdiction" gained during the 12-year trade embargo of Iraq.

The meeting is considering new measures to block the clandestine trafficking of WMD components and long-range missiles. Targeting North Korea among other "countries of concern", the Proliferation Security Initiative is examining whether international arms control treaties can be strengthened.

It is also considering whether military force should be deployed more extensively to stop illegal trade in weapons by land, air and sea.

Australian officials lean to the view that the 11-nation group - comprising Australia, the US, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Poland, Portugal, Japan and the Netherlands - needs to focus first on better intelligence sharing.

However, today's talks were expected to include preliminary discussions on joint training exercises involving participating nations.

The US fears North Korea's arms trafficking could deliver doomsday technology into the hands of terrorists, and some in the Bush Administration have argued for a naval blockade.